A book is a gift you can open again and again. ~Garrison Keillor
One of my favorite things to do as a writer is talk to readers and other writers. And one of the best times to do that is at a book fair or festival. The Kentucky Book Fair is one of the best in our state. This year marks its 37th year. I haven’t been there every year, but I have sat behind a table of books at many of those years. This year I’ll have my new book, River to Redemption, along with a couple of my other books.
I was at the Kentucky Book Fair when it was held at the Kentucky State Library. I had my young adult and middle reader books then. One of the most fun comments I’ve ever received was from a young teen who bought a book from me early on a book fair day and then came back later that day to say she’d found a reading nook somewhere there at the fair and had read my whole book. Oh, and she liked it.
But I have had fun and enjoyed meeting readers at all the Fairs I’ve attended. I missed a few years in between my young adult books and my inspirational novels for adults now. But since I came back on board with those novels I think I’ve been at the Fair thirteen straight years. The Fair was at the State Library until it outgrew that place. Then it was at a gym on the Kentucky State University for several years. It moved from there to the Frankfort Convention Center. After that building was scheduled for demolition, the Fair moved to the Kentucky Horse Park last year and will be there at the Alltech Arena again this year. Thank goodness book lovers follow the Book Fair wherever it is being held.
The timing makes this Book Fair extra fun since so many people come to the Fair with Christmas shopping lists. It is fun to hunt out those perfect books for your family. They surely love finding autographed books under the tree. It’s great to buy a few gift books for yourself too. You can check out the authors and their books here.
You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child. ~Dr. Seuss
One of the fun things about looking back at some of the photos from previous fairs is seeing the grandkids. They love books and have gotten to come to several of the Fairs. You can see how they’ve grown up since those early pictures.
It’s also fun to see my writer friends at the Fair. Virginia Smith and I have taken many pictures together at the Kentucky Book Fair. I haven’t taken that many with Santa, but one year I got to give him my book Christmas list. 🙂 So now I’ll have to see what fun pictures I can take this year.
The Book Fair is happening this Saturday, November 17th, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Alltech Arena. I hope if you live near enough you get to come to the Book Fair. If you do, be sure to hunt up my book table and say hello. I love meeting my internet buddies at book events.
Have you ever been to a book fair? If so, what did you like best about it?
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As always, thanks for reading.
Comments 12
I just did a Google search and found out that my state has a book fair, just like Kentucky! This year’s book fair just happened, so I will put it on my calendar to go next year ! 🙂 Thanks for the fun idea, Ann! People + books = an amazing opportunity for this extroverted bookworm!😉 😍Psalm 112😍
Author
You will surely have a ball, Emily. As you say, book fairs are a treat for those of us who love books and love talking about books and love talking to other book lovers. That’s a win win win situation. Maybe I can make it to one of your book fairs someday. There was a writer from Oregon at the KY Book Fair yesterday. Her company had her on a publicity tour of 20 some odd states.
I got to go to the Kentucky Book Fair one time for my birthday and it was amazing! I still think about it at times. I would love to be there again this year, but I am still recovering from surgery and am unable to go. Hope you have an awesome time, Ann! Have enough fun for me too. 😊
Author
Mandy, I remember that time you came to the book fair too. It was a big ego boost for me to know that somebody would drive that far to meet me. Plus, it was just such a romantic thing for your husband to do for you. You have a winner with him. 🙂 But it would be fun to see you at a book fair again too.
I have been to school book fairs.My grandsons school is pretty smart about it, they schedule grandparent night during book fair.After we meet the teacher and grab a sack meal we head to the library and help our grandchildren choose books that we purchase for them.A hectic night but makes some money for the school and the kids love it! I do too!
I would love to go to the Kentucky Book Fair but won’t be able to make it this year, my husband is still recovering from surgery.Hope to be able to go next year.
Author
Hope your husband recovers quickly, Lisa. I know you do too. And you’re right about your smart school officials. Grandparents and books – the kids and the school both are going to be winners there. They don’t have a grandparent night where my grandkids go to school. They do have a day for us to come and eat lunch with the grandkids, but they should think about that book fair grandparent event.
I love book fairs and meeting authors. I will be one of the authors at a couple of events here in SC. 🙂 My recently published children’s book will be for sale. “Licky the Lizard”. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Author
What a cute title, Melissa. Licky the Lizard. Sounds like a fun kids’ book. I attended the South Carolina Book Fair a couple of times. Loved it. One of the best I’ve ever been too. Maybe I’ll get to go back someday. I hope you will have a great time at your events. Such fun to meet readers and kid readers are the best.
I have never been to a book fair because I am unaware of any where I live. It definitely is something I would attend if I had the opportunity——I love books 📚❤️
Author
Maybe you’ll hear of a book fair close enough to attend one of these days, Darlene. I’m sure you’d have a great time browsing through the tables of books and talking to the authors.
I’m looking forward to seeing you Saturday! Last year was the first time I attended the Book Fair. The Horse Park is not far from me, and one of my favorite places to visit. I was thrilled to learn they’ll be hosting again this year. It’s going to a fun day!
Author
I love going to the Book Fair too, Lavon. Sometimes I wish they would have an hour before the event starts for authors to walk around and look at all the books. Maybe it’s good they don’t. I’d want to buy too many. 🙂 Hope to see you there tomorrow. Attendance may be down since Kentucky has a football game at noon. We’ll see.